Bachelor CEO (McDaniels #1)

Chapter Six

Miranda wasn’t certain how she made it through the rest of lunch, much less the next few days. Being around Chase was like walking a tightrope.

Not that he mentioned anything about wanting her again. Once he’d stated his feelings, he’d withdrawn. The business facade had dropped into place, and Chase continued as if nothing had happened.

They’d finished lunch in an odd silence punctuated only by meaningless small talk. In their subsequent work meetings he’d glanced at her, but more as if looking through her than really seeing her. The sense that she’d lost something she hadn’t known she wanted was profound.

By Thursday afternoon, she was wired so tightly that when he popped into her office at three o’clock she practically jumped out of her skin.

“Have you checked your e-mails?”

he asked without preamble.

“Not since one.”

She’d been preparing reports since then.

“Didn’t think so.”

He stood in her doorway, with his white shirtsleeves pushed up so that golden-blond hair was visible on his tan forearms. “My grandfather e-mailed an hour and a half ago.”

“Oh.”

Miranda double-clicked an icon on her computer. Normally she checked e-mails at the top of every hour, but since she’d been trying to focus on her reports, she’d kept the program closed.

“Whatever this is, I guess it’s important if you walked down here to tell me about it.”

He folded his arms. “No. I figured you hadn’t read it, or you’d have already found me.”

“Okay,”

Miranda said slowly, opening her in-box. She had thirteen new messages. The one from Leroy McDaniel was near the top. She opened it and found it wasn’t even addressed to her, but rather to Chase and copied to her.

She scanned the contents. It seemed that Leroy wanted Chase to bring Miranda with him when he drove up to the lake Friday night. Leroy also intended to take them to dinner Saturday, so they should plan to head back on Sunday once they’d formalized final details of the transition.

“So we’re going to the lake,” she said.

He watched her closely. “Yes. You’ll get your first experience bringing up the paperwork. It’s usually my job. Each Friday I take Leroy what he’s missed.”

No one had told her about this. It figured. She’d hoped to try to relax this weekend. “You do this every week?”

“It’s part of my job.”

She sensed his irritation. This was one more thing she was usurping.

“So are we riding up together?”

“Normally I go alone.”

She deliberately shrugged. Chase needed to deal with the fact that he was going on sabbatical. “When do we leave?”

“So you’re okay with this?”

he asked, straightening.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

He moved to stand in front of her desk. “You’ve been walking on eggshells since Tuesday.”

“Me? Hardly.”

She leaned back and laced her fingers together. “If you’re expecting some big drama, you’re in the wrong place. It’s part of my job. You’re to show me the ropes. I can handle it.”

He rolled his shoulders, the cool, disinterested mask he’d worn since lunch Tuesday falling back into place. “Great, then we leave tomorrow at two. Dinner’s casual, so pack accordingly.”

With that, he left. Miranda loosened her hands and drummed her fingertips on her desk. She wanted to scream. How did Chase do it? How did he just turn on and off like that?

He was like a stealth bomber, arriving quietly, attacking without warning and dropping an announcement that shook her to the core. Then he’d disappear as if nothing had happened, leaving her to deal with the emotional fallout.

The worst part was that he was treating her exactly how she’d asked him to—but now everything had changed. He’d told her how he felt about her, which was like kicking open Pandora’s box.

Miranda pounded her fist on her desk. Darn the man!

She reached for her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.

Walter picked up on the second ring. “Ready to quit yet?”

he joked once she’d said hello.

“No. I’m headed back to the lake, though.”

“Ah, bringing Leroy his stuff.”

“Yes.”

Even Walter knew. Miranda suspected Chase had deliberately neglected to tell her until the e-mail arrived.

“During the summer Leroy works from the lake. Chase goes up on Friday nights, spends Saturday morning with him and then is free to do what he wishes,”

Walter told her.

“We’re staying the whole weekend. Something about the transition.”

“Then relax and enjoy yourself.”

“I just wish I’d had a heads-up. So much about this company isn’t written down anywhere. It’s in one of the McDaniels’ heads. Or some sort of tradition that everyone knows about but me.”

“You’ll learn. You’re lucky you got out of here when you did, by the way. The board hasn’t even looked for my replacement. They’re going to use someone from within instead on an interim basis. Did you see the news? BevMart made an offer to buy us out. The stock jumped yesterday as speculators scrambled to get on the bandwagon.”

“I guess we’ll be watching here, since McDaniel’s distribution contract is up for renewal next year. I’ve already learned we have a team in place investigating other options.”

“See, you’re catching on. Hang in there. I have faith in you. Call me anytime.”

Miranda replaced the phone receiver. It had been good to hear Walter’s voice. She missed him. He’d always been just down the hall. It made her a little sad to realize they’d never work together again.

She surveyed her office. She’d spent lunch yesterday personalizing her space. She’d hung her diplomas, put her pictures on the shelves. She’d added a few potted plants to the windowsill. Even her apartment was starting to feel like home, but her life didn’t seem as calm and serene as her surroundings.

Around quitting time she realized she had no idea who was driving to the lake. She assumed Chase was, but as her first day’s lunch had shown, assumptions were something you didn’t make around Chase McDaniel. She opened her e-mail.

LEROY SHUFFLED THROUGH the great room early Friday morning, a cup of black coffee in his hand. The rising sun shimmered off the water, and outside the windows, the lake came to life as night receded.

He hadn’t slept well. Instead of enjoying a sound sleep, he’d been thinking about the situation with Chase and Miranda, who were due to arrive around dinnertime.

Leroy had woken up feeling all of his eighty years.

A month ago he’d been so certain this had been the right decision. Not that he’d come to doubt Miranda’s competency. Even Chase had grudgingly admitted yesterday that she was perfect for the job.

But Leroy knew that nothing was ever simple with Chase. His grandson was one of those deep men. Oh sure, he seemed like the frivolous, self-centered type on the surface, but Leroy knew better. Chase might have run through women like water, but he had a steadfast soul and a pure heart. He was one of those men’s men, the kind you wanted fighting by your side. He was intensely loyal, almost to a fault. He just hadn’t found what he was looking for yet.

Leroy wanted so much for Chase to be happy. His grandson had been simply existing, going through the motions, for several years. He needed this time off to find himself.p>

But in the back of his mind, Leroy couldn’t help worrying that he might have made a terrible mistake and hurt Chase in a way he’d never intended.

CHASE AND MIRANDA reached Lone Pine Lake around 5:00 p.m. Amazingly, the drive hadn’t been that bad. Although she’d been physically aware of him the entire time, for the most part Chase had left her alone to read her book. Conversation had been minimal, and mostly regarding the scenery.

When they stepped out of the SUV, she noticed that Chase’s tension melted away. His eyebrows rose when he saw her staring. “What?”

“Nothing. You just seem more relaxed, and we haven’t even gotten the luggage out yet.”

“This is where I hang my hat,”

he said, popping the tailgate.

“Meaning?”

“This is where I decompress. It’s that way for my whole family. Maybe it’s the air or the serenity of the water. Like you said last weekend, you could sit and look out at the lake for hours. You’ll probably get the chance.”

“I’m too keyed up to relax,”

she admitted. She’d kissed him here. Her body remembered, even if her brain declared the best kiss of her life off-limits.

“You will. You’ll find this place changes your perspective. You’ll have lots of opportunities to hang out in the great room, since you’re staying above the kitchen.”

“I’m not in the cottage?”

He shook his head. “No. Both are occupied. A lot of guests come and go over the summer. My grandmother’s sister is staying in one for a season. She prefers to keep her own company, though, so you probably won’t meet her. My uncle Harvey and his wife are also here for three weeks. Harvey’s my grandfather’s younger brother. He’s a lawyer.”

“Oh, I remember seeing him at the party. We weren’t introduced.”

She and Chase toted their luggage into the lodge and Chase set his on the kitchen floor.

“Let me take those from here.”

He reached for her carry-on bag and opened the door that led upstairs. Miranda followed him.

She’d seen the room on her first visit. Set into the rafters, the space was like an A-frame, with four dormer windows on one side and a fifth on the opposite wall, filling the room with light.

“Your bathroom is in here,”

Chase said, showing her a room immediately off the landing that was only large enough for a shower, toilet and pedestal sink. “Feel free to use the armoire for your clothes.”

“Okay,”

she replied, taking her suitcase from him and rolling it to a stop by the double bed. Unlike the front bedrooms, which looked out over the lake, her room had a view of the meadow where Leroy’s party had been held. The sun was still high in the sky, and she would have a fantastic view of the sunset.

“Take some time to freshen up and then meet me in, say, thirty minutes?”

“That sounds fine.”

Chase’s footsteps thudded as he went downstairs, and Miranda sank into the rocking chair. It was a lovely room. She looked at the small table next to her, where on a shelf below, three ancient books waited for someone to pick them up.

She obliged, and opened the first. Inside was the inscription “To my darling Heidi on our fifth anniversary.”

Leroy had scrawled his signature after the word Love. Miranda closed the book and pressed it to her chest, hands folded protectively over the cover. She knew enough McDaniel history to understand how much Leroy had adored his wife.

What would it be like to be loved like that? To be wanted only for yourself?

The only times she’d experienced true passion in a kiss had been in the boathouse and on the dock with Chase. Probably not a good idea to go too near the water this visit!

She replaced the book, changed into casual clothes and made her way to the great room.

“That’s a bad habit of yours,”

she said as she walked into the room.

Chase swiveled around. He was sitting in one of the mission chairs that faced the lake. “What is?”

“Always being early.”

He shrugged. “Can’t help it. I’m not one of those men who likes to primp.”

Of course not, Miranda thought. He was blessed with natural good looks.

He motioned to the chair next to him, and she sat. The leather wrapped around her, drawing her in. On the lake, two sailboats raced by, the water glimmering in the early evening sun. The man next to her was the only reason Miranda couldn’t relax.

He’d changed out of his business clothes, and was now wearing boat shoes without socks, Dockers shorts and a polo shirt. He’d kicked his feet up on the windowsill and stretched out.

She dragged her eyes away from his well-muscled legs, and finally found her voice. “Is your grandfather joining us soon?”

“Nope,”

Chase said easily. “He went over to the cottage to have dinner with Harvey. He made dinner reservations for us, though, and insisted we follow his directives.”

She glanced down at the pedal pushers and short-sleeve sweater she wore. Dinner alone with Chase? It sounded as if she’d been fixed up on a blind date. But that was ridiculous. Leroy wouldn’t do something like that. This was business. “Okay,”

she said slowly.

“We’re going to the country club. Come on.”

Chase rose to his feet and she did the same. He opened the front door and led her out to the path. She had an odd sense of déjà vu as they headed toward the boathouse. He walked out onto one of the three Lone Pine docks, where a runabout waited. “Your chariot,”

he said, hopping into the twenty-foot watercraft.

Miranda hesitated. “You know I’ve never been in a boat this size.”

Heck, she’d never been in a canoe.

“You’ll love it, as long as you aren’t afraid of getting a little wind in your hair.”

Chase’s blue eyes challenged her. “You aren’t afraid, are you?”

“Of course not,”

Miranda retorted, shoving her fears aside.

“Take off your shoes. It’ll make climbing in easier.”

She passed him her sandals and he set them on the floor of the boat. Then he reached for her hand.

She didn’t want to touch him, but had no choice. His grip was tight and secure as he helped her in. She set one foot on the seat, but as her other one landed on the floor, the boat rocked slightly and she fell against Chase.

He caught and steadied her. One hand still held hers, and he trapped it against his chest. He wrapped his other arm around her waist. The magnetic current sizzling between them was unmistakable, and her mouth opened, but no words came out.

Chase loosened his grip and guided her to the seat next to the driver’s. “That’s your spot, unless you want to sit up front.”

“No, this is good,”

she said. Staying behind the windshield seemed safer, even if she’d be sitting far too close to Chase. Her body quivered. She couldn’t deny the physical effect he had on her.

Chase was the proverbial walk on the wild side. She’d stayed on the straight and narrow her whole life.

He tempted her because he represented the fun she’d never had. His innate sexiness was decadent and guaranteed to please.

Yet, like eating too much dessert, she’d have regrets. But would she regret even more not indulging?

“Get ready. We’ll be off in a minute.”

She sat down, marveling at the ease with which Chase hopped out of the boat, untied the ropes and soon had the craft motoring away from the dock. Once out on open water, they quickly reached cruising speed. The up-and-down motion was at first scary, and then oddly welcome as her fear was replaced with adrenaline.

Being out on the lake was exhilarating. Freeing. If she’d only known! How much of life had she missed?

“Like it?”

Chase shouted.

“Love it,”

Miranda said, scooting forward so she could see over the windshield. The opposite shore was coming into better view; the golf course was visible on the hillside, as were the docks at the base.

Chase cut the engine speed to idle and soon had the boat tied up. He disembarked, and Miranda handed him her sandals. This time, as he helped her out, she didn’t falter. She slid her feet back into her shoes and ran her fingers through her hair.

A golf cart waited at the shore, and they used it to get to the clubhouse. “Hey, I see cars,”

Miranda said as they reached the parking lot.

“It’s faster traveling over by boat,”

Chase replied, parking the golf cart next to some others. “And more fun. You enjoyed it, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

He grinned and her heart skipped a beat. “I took a risk that you would. I think I have you pegged.”

She drew herself up. “I doubt that.”

His cheeky grin said it all. The fun-loving Chase was back. “I don’t. Besides, you’re in my world now. Let’s go eat.”

BY THE END OF DINNER, Miranda had finally relaxed, and she’d met most of the people who lived around the lakeshore. The country club was definitely the place to be on a Friday night. She’d been surprised to learn that the club was public—anyone could use the golf course and enjoy the restaurant. Many of the folks she’d met had been at Leroy’s birthday party, and those who hadn’t were quick to accept her as a new McDaniel employee.

“So you don’t bring dates here, either?”

she teased as she and Chase walked back to the dock, opting to leave the golf cart behind after they’d finished their meal. The sun was dipping below the treetops by the time they left. Although the sky wasn’t totally dark, low voltage lights illuminated the walkway.

“No. I’ve never brought a girlfriend to the lake.”

“Really?”

That surprised her.

He shrugged. “This is my space. I guess I’ve never found the woman I wanted to share it with.”

Again he helped her into the boat. This time Miranda was sure of her footing, but touching him still sent a tingle to her toes. She told herself it was the two glasses of wine she’d had. Or maybe a residual sugar high from the decadent chocolate cake she’d eaten.

“So would you like a tour? I think night’s the best time to be on the water,”

Chase said once they’d gotten under way. “Lone Pine is actually part of a chain of lakes. To the north is Balsam Lake. It’s smaller and rounder.”

He made the decision for her. “I’ll show you. It’s not far.”

Miranda settled back against the seat as they chugged along. Unlike earlier in the day, he’d now grown chatty.

Chase had had only one glass of wine with dinner, so Miranda knew the reason wasn’t alcohol. Rather, she suspected it was because he loved the area. He knew every inch of lakeshore, and pointed out various houses and told her about their histories and current occupants.

She was laughing at one of his accounts as they came to a bridge across a narrows. “That’s Highway A,”

he told her. “If you hadn’t stopped that day, you would eventually have crossed this bridge.”

“I must have turned around right before I reached it.”

“Probably.”

He decreased speed, and they coasted through the channel, which was twelve feet wide at most. The bridge was about fifty feet above their heads as they puttered beneath.

After they got through the bottleneck, the lake opened up. However, unlike Lone Pine, Balsam Lake was egg-shaped, and only a half mile across and a mile long. A few houses sat high on the hills surrounding it, their docks far below and many sets of stairs away. Chase brought the boat to a halt in the center of the lake, turned off the engine and floated.

“Hear how quiet it is.”

Miranda listened. It was as if they’d entered another world. The lake water was dark and deep, and the sun had disappeared, leaving only the final reddish tints of twilight. The sounds of humanity had ceased, but all around her the song of nature came to life as nocturnal animals and insects came out to play.

The night spoke of romance. It was heavy with solace and peace, and the undercurrent of something permanent and magical.

And it felt as if all those things she had been looking for her entire life could be found simply by turning to the man who sat next to her, as lost in the moment as she was.

All she had to do was say his name, and yet Miranda knew no words should be spoken. They had no future.

As if emphasizing that depressing point, a mosquito buzzed by, and Chase restarted the engine. “That’s our cue,”

he said. “If they start to bite, there’s bug spray in the glove box in front of you. But we should be going fast enough to keep them away.”

“Thank you,”

Miranda said, as they made their way back to Lone Pine Lake.

“For what?”

“For sharing. I’ve never been anywhere like this.”

“I used to do a lot of night fishing. It’s peaceful. During the day Balsam’s the best place to water-ski. It’s a well-kept secret.”

“I’ve never tried any water sports.”

“Really? You’ll have to let me teach you how to ski sometime.”

“I doubt I’ll be skiing when I’m here. Just bringing your grandfather his work and leaving the next morning.”

“Then you’ll be missing out.”

Chase pushed on the throttle as they hit open water. He clicked a button and the boat’s running lights came on. Darkness had settled, and all along the lakeshore house lights flickered.

“I’ll take you to see the rest of the lake tomorrow,”

he said as he turned the boat toward the Lone Pine docks. In the distance Miranda could see the lodge sitting on the hillside like a majestic queen, the glow from her windows welcoming. A lump formed in her throat and she shivered. This was Chase’s home.

Not hers. As much as she’d like to, she didn’t belong here.

He saw her shiver. “Cold?”

“I’m fine.”

The temperature had dropped, but her chill was from the sad feelings overtaking her. Under any other circumstances she and Chase could probably have been friends. Perhaps even lovers. Maybe more.

He was like no other man she’d ever met. They had fun when they were together. He’d wanted her once. They’d kissed. Twice.

She would probably find the love that was missing from her life if only they’d met in another time and place, where outside forces didn’t dictate their roles, and he didn’t despise her for taking his job. She’d coveted his position and his lifestyle, and fate had handed them to her at his expense.

But she’d learned one thing tonight. Despite what people said, you couldn’t have it all.

FROM THE GREAT ROOM windows, Leroy watched as Chase moored the boat. The two looked as if they’d had fun.

“Are we working tonight?”

Miranda asked, when she and Chase entered the lodge.

“No. Tonight’s about relaxing,”

Leroy replied. “We’ll start at eight-thirty tomorrow, over breakfast. So how was dinner?”

“Mr. and Mrs. Simmons send birthday greetings and asked me to say they’re sorry they missed your party. They were in Hawaii. But they want you to know you’re to come to their Fourth of July bash just like every year,”

Chase said.

“Wouldn’t miss it,”

Leroy said. He turned to Miranda. “So did you like the country club? It’s modeled after Saint Andrew’s in Scotland.”

“I did. The food was terrific. And afterward Chase showed me Balsam Lake.”

Ah. That’s where they’d been. Although, as Leroy assessed his grandson’s body language, he could tell nothing had happened.

“There aren’t any fish in that lake, either,”

Leroy grumbled, continuing to observe the pair. He usually despised the women Chase dated, but Miranda just might be perfect for him. The signs were all there.

“We McDaniels aren’t very lucky with fishing,”

Chase explained.

“Never even seen a keeper,”

Leroy added, keeping the small talk going while watching Chase for signs that he was interested in Miranda. His grandson had mastered the poker face. Miranda was easier to read, and her expressions revealed a lot. “I’ve arranged for us to eat on the big island tomorrow. Harvey and Laverne are coming, too.”

“That sounds nice,”

Miranda said politely.

“The lodge there is the only property on the lake older than this one. It’s now a resort. You can see their boathouse from here. I’ll show it to you up close tomorrow,”

Chase offered.

“They’ve done a good job of restoration,”

Leroy said. “We were worried for a while that it might get demolished for condos or something. Places like this need to be preserved.”

“I agree.”

Miranda stood there for a moment. “So we’re meeting at eight-thirty?”

Chase nodded.

“Then, if you both don’t mind, I’m going to turn in. Good night.”

And with that, she was gone. Leroy noticed the way Chase’s eyes followed her. So the boy did like her a little.

“How was your dinner?”

Chase asked.

“Great. Laverne made meat loaf. Sent me the leftovers for lunch.”

He loved meat loaf, especially the next day in a sandwich. “So you took her to Balsam?”

he prodded.

“She’d never been out on a boat before tonight. She loved it.”

“Unlike the floozies you date.”

“I never brought anyone here,”

Chase snapped.

Leroy suppressed a chuckle. Chase was testy. He was more affected by Miranda than he let on. “Your previous women were more the yacht type, and we don’t own one of those. Too big and fancy for my britches. People shouldn’t show off just because they can.”

“I agree. We’ve had this discussion many times. You aren’t trying to push Miranda on me, are you?”

Leroy realized he was entering dangerous waters. He wasn’t good at matchmaking, that had been Heidi’s forte. He decided to try another tactic.

“No, but Miranda’s good people. Has her priorities straight. Did you know she’s putting her sister through college?”

“She mentioned that when we had lunch Tuesday.”

So Chase was playing this one close to the chest. “Her dedication to her family was one of the things that most impressed me about her. She puts everyone else before herself.”

“She’s a saint,”

Chase agreed, rolling his eyes.

“You’ve done a lot worse,”

Leroy pointed out.

“What do you mean by that?”

Oh, boy. He’d backed himself into a corner. For a shrewd businessman, Leroy had really botched this. “Nothing. Just the ramblings of an old man. Forget it.”

“Grandpa…”

Leroy began shuffling off to his bedroom. At eighty, his legs didn’t move as fast as they used to. “Gotta turn in. It’s late. See you in the morning.”

With a wave over his shoulder, he left Chase alone, standing in the great room.

CHASE WATCHED his grandfather go, and hoped that turning eighty hadn’t made the old man senile. For Leroy to insinuate that he should date Miranda…That certainly wasn’t the Leroy Chase knew.

He busied himself turning off lights. The great room became pitch-black, and it took awhile for his eyes to become accustomed enough to see the outlines of furniture. He made it through the room by habit more than sight, and soon was up in his bedroom.

Two hours later he was still wide-awake, with Miranda dominating his thoughts. He’d wanted to kiss her when they’d stopped to enjoy the solitude of Balsam Lake. He’d sensed she might be willing. But he’d only be in Chenille for a few more days, and she wasn’t the one-night-stand type. Chase threw off the covers and went to the window.

Movement caught his eye, and he sucked in a breath. He couldn’t believe it.

There Miranda was, out on the dock, just like last weekend.

He didn’t hesitate. He grabbed his shoes and left, sleep forgotten.